Monkeys, water buffalo and coconuts

They also showed us how they train the monkeys to pick coconuts. They reward them with cute little bottles of milk. Here is the monkey getting his reward for getting the coconuts.

Then we watched a lady demonstrate how to cook a Thai curry. They were selling curry paste afterwards and, of course, we bought some.

Next, the water buffalo.Those who wanted to could take a picture on him.

This is Wi, our tour guide, showing us how it's done. Now amazing thing about stereotypes – two of the three make-up girls actually got on that hot, smelly beast to have their picture taken.

Dion and I, being the adventurous sorts of people we are, decided to rather take a photo next to him. The water buffalo's coat is hard, bristly and sweaty. Quite gross actually. We also took a ride on a wagon pulled along by this water buffalo.

They also showed us absolutely everything to do with coconuts - how to de-husk, how to get the water/ juice out, how they make dessicated coconut, coconut milk and coconut oil. These people do not waste anything - the husk is used as a sort of chocolate flavoured topping for cakes.

Then we went to lunch where we sat with a New Zealand couple, Duncan and Rebecca (by the way, they didn't have the strong NZ accents). They also got married at the end of April like we did and this was their honeymoon on the way to England where he was being transferred for a year.

We were also in the same transport to the drop-off point and back to our hotel - this is how I could get all the details!

At the hotel, we rested for a bit, then changed and went to the pool. At 4.30 it looked like it was going to rain so Dion packed everything up and we went back to the room. I sat on the balcony updating the journal for about an hour and then spent some time chatting to our Aussie neighbours, Rene and Maria.

After showers, we set off for the Happy Restaurant which is actually called Kata Kitchen. It had bright pink and blue tablecloths and lots of lights, hence the nickname. This one had free rice and soft drinks. D had pad thai with seafood and I had THE MOST DELICIOUS MEAL EVER - chicken with cashew nuts and pineapple.

Afterwards, I stopped by an internet café for 45 minutes. Dion went off in a sulk because I was taking too long and wouldn't come for a massage. So I went on my own - independent Marsh strikes again.

Well, that was my first and last Thai massage - it was very sore although to be fair, some of it was very nice.